{"id":174242,"date":"2024-07-26T17:00:06","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T17:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=174242"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:00:06","slug":"american-express-gold-card-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/credit-cards\/american-express-gold-card-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Amex Overhauls the American Express\u00ae Gold Card, Launches Appealing New Offer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/a> just underwent an overhaul, and no, we're not the least bit surprised. American Express CEO Stephen Squeri all but <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.americanexpress.com\/investor-relations\/default.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed these plans were set in stone<\/a> earlier this year when promising the issuer would &#8220;refresh&#8221; nearly 40 Amex cards in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>So, what's new with the Amex Gold? And does it still warrant a spot in your wallet? Let's take a look.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Amex_Refreshes_the_Amex_Gold\">Amex Refreshes the Amex Gold<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Now-higher_annual_fee\">Now-higher annual fee<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#New_statement_credits\">New statement credits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Amended_annual_dining_credit\">Amended annual dining credit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Limited-time_card_design\">Limited-time card design<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Amex_Gold_Welcome_Offer\">Amex Gold Welcome Offer<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Is_the_Amex_Gold_Still_Worth_It_After_the_Changes\">Is the Amex Gold Still Worth It After the Changes?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Can_you_justify_the_annual_fee\">Can you justify the annual fee?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Analyze_your_spending_habits_and_consider_other_card_options\">Analyze your spending habits and consider other card options<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Which_types_of_rewards_do_you_prioritize\">Which types of rewards do you prioritize?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Amex_Refreshes_the_Amex_Gold\">Amex Refreshes the Amex Gold<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>By now, you've likely come to understand what &#8220;refresh&#8221; means to American Express. Essentially, it signifies a new, higher annual fee, expanded statement credits, and a slight reshuffle of some previously available benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Or, at least, that's what Amex has done to its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum-changes-2023\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Platinum-branded cards<\/a> (several times over), <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/amex-membership-rewards\/business-gold-refresh\/\" rel=\"noopener\">the American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Business Gold Card<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/delta-skymiles\/delta-credit-card-changes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Delta's suite of card offerings<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/credit-cards\/hilton-card-changes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">a slew of Hilton cards<\/a>, and more. The Amex Gold is just the latest card to be &#8220;enhanced.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Here's an overview of the mostly now-live changes to the Amex Gold.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136225\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136225 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Pexels-Andrea-Piacquadio-hotel-credit-card-featured.png\" alt=\"a woman pays with a credit card at a hotel reception desk\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Pexels-Andrea-Piacquadio-hotel-credit-card-featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Pexels-Andrea-Piacquadio-hotel-credit-card-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Pexels-Andrea-Piacquadio-hotel-credit-card-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Pexels-Andrea-Piacquadio-hotel-credit-card-featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Andrea Piacquadio\/Pexels<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Now-higher_annual_fee\">Now-higher annual fee<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you're keen on stemming the wallet impact of annual fees, we'll deliver the bad news first. The <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Amex Gold<\/a>&#8216;s annual fee jumped from $250 to $325   (<a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>This change is live, so if you apply for the card today, you'll see the updated annual fee on the application page. But if you already have the card, here's when you'll pay the now-higher annual fee:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Card renews before September 30, 2024?<\/strong> Pay $250 for one more year, then pay $325 at the next renewal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Card renews on or after October 1, 2024?<\/strong> Pay $325 on renewal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"New_statement_credits\">New statement credits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A higher annual fee should mean more benefits \u2014 at least theoretically. That's true with the Amex Gold, as the card now offers an additional $184 worth of annual statement credits. Card Members can enjoy two new dining-focused credits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>$100 Resy credit:<\/strong> Broken into $50 usable from January through June and $50 usable July through December.<\/li>\n<li><strong>$84 Dunkin' credit:<\/strong> $7 per month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Of the two, the Resy credit is more interesting. Savvy Card Members could use it to offset the cost of a couple of meals per year. The Dunkin' credit leaves a bit to be desired; $7 might cover a cup of coffee nowadays. Plus, you'll need to use it monthly.<\/p>\n<p>The $120 Uber Cash benefit isn't changing, nor is the value of the $120 annual dining credit. When tallied, the Amex Gold now affords Card Members $424 worth of credits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"remark\"><em><strong>Amex Disclosure<\/strong>: To receive $10 monthly credits (up to $120 per year) in Uber Cash, you must add the American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_132226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-132226 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured_OlderWomanUsingACardAtARestaurant-Pixelfit-GettyImages.jpg\" alt=\"a person pays by credit card at an outdoor caf\u00e9\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured_OlderWomanUsingACardAtARestaurant-Pixelfit-GettyImages.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured_OlderWomanUsingACardAtARestaurant-Pixelfit-GettyImages-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured_OlderWomanUsingACardAtARestaurant-Pixelfit-GettyImages-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured_OlderWomanUsingACardAtARestaurant-Pixelfit-GettyImages-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Pixelfit\/Getty Images<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Amended_annual_dining_credit\">Amended annual dining credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The value of the $120 annual dining credit ($10 per month) isn't changing, but the list of eligible establishments is. Shake Shack and Milk Bar are being axed in favor of Five Guys, and the removal will take effect on <strong>September 26, 2024<\/strong>. Thus, the updated list of partners at which you can use your credit stacks up as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Five Guys<\/li>\n<li>Grubhub<\/li>\n<li>The Cheesecake Factory<\/li>\n<li>Wine.com<\/li>\n<li>Goldbelly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Again, Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Limited-time_card_design\">Limited-time card design<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A third color option \u2014 a limited-edition white gold \u2014 is coming to the <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Amex Gold<\/a>. This option will only be around while supplies last, and there's no telling how long that will be.<\/p>\n<p>You can choose this color when applying for the card or by replacing your current card on your Amex account management page.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Amex_Gold_Welcome_Offer\">Amex Gold Welcome Offer<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To balance the changes, American Express is sweetening the Amex Gold&#8216;s welcome offer. Eligible new applicants can earn as high as 100,000 after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months (apply and find out your offer, welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer).\u00a0This is the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-credit-card-offer-history\/\" rel=\"noopener\">best publicly available offer<\/a> we've seen on the Amex Gold.<\/p>\n<p><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-143268 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alex-Haney-Unsplash-restaurant-featured.jpg\" alt=\"friends eat together at a restaurant\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alex-Haney-Unsplash-restaurant-featured.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alex-Haney-Unsplash-restaurant-featured-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alex-Haney-Unsplash-restaurant-featured-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alex-Haney-Unsplash-restaurant-featured-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Credit: Alex Haney\/Unsplash<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Is_the_Amex_Gold_Still_Worth_It_After_the_Changes\">Is the Amex Gold Still Worth It After the Changes?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like with every card, whether or not a product is right for you depends on several factors. Notable ones include your annual fee tolerance, spending habits, and the rewards you value.<\/p>\n<p>So, maybe the Amex Gold is right for you, or perhaps it isn't. Here are some things to think about before you apply for the card or choose to renew.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Can_you_justify_the_annual_fee\">Can you justify the annual fee?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Amex Gold<\/a> now has a $325 annual fee   (<a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) but offers $424 worth of annual credits. $424 is the bigger number, so the card can be a positive carry if you maximize all the credits.<\/p>\n<p>However, that comes with a caveat. Are the credits good for things you'd ordinarily spend money on? If so, great. If not, think twice. Moreover, don't let the cost of using the credit exceed its face value.<\/p>\n<p>Take the Uber Cash benefit, for example. If you use it to cover an Uber Eats order, will you pay more for the convenience of online ordering than you'd otherwise pay by ordering directly through the restaurant? Even if you go pick your order up instead of having it delivered, the higher menu costs and added fees courtesy of Uber Eats may offset your monthly credit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_93212\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/479\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-93212 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Woman-holding-credit-card-laptop-pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3784391.jpg\" alt=\"a woman sits at a laptop while holding a credit card\" width=\"600\" height=\"479\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Woman-holding-credit-card-laptop-pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3784391.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Woman-holding-credit-card-laptop-pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3784391-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Woman-holding-credit-card-laptop-pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3784391-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Woman-holding-credit-card-laptop-pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3784391-325x260.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Andrea Piacquadio\/Pexels<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Analyze_your_spending_habits_and_consider_other_card_options\">Analyze your spending habits and consider other card options<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Few cards offer a return on spending like the Amex Gold. Objectively, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in eligible spending per year), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in eligible spending per year), and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com is fantastic.<\/p>\n<p>But again, that comes with a caveat. The Amex Gold has a $325 annual fee. True <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-mid-tier-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">mid-tier cards<\/a> like the <a data-ccid=\"520083\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/citi-strata-premier\/\">Citi Strata Premier<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"520083\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4328&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) and <a data-ccid=\"2061159\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphirePreferredCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"2061159\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005147&type=3&subid=0bc38fbd9852aca260df263dacfb3f2fc&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) offer similar rewards structures (and sign-up bonuses) but for a much smaller $95 annual fee.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the best part about the two options above is that you don't have to relentlessly track several statement credits to ensure you get full value from either card every year. All to say, there are plenty of fish in the sea. You might find better value in earning fewer points per dollar spent and paying less annual fees.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-citi\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/4206696d-827e-44e5-bfc0-d0ce86822875.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express\u00ae Gold Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nFind Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express\u00ae Gold Card' data-ccid=\"4028085\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$325<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul><li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n        <li>5X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>3X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com\r\n        <li>1X on other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/7e0262fd-5b61-413b-8b01-c8feec5b1d04.png\" alt=\"Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card\" width=\"150\"\/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card' data-ccid=\"2061159\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphirePreferredCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$95<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"2061159\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005147&type=3&subid=0bc38fbd9852aca260df263dacfb3f2fc&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027<\/li>\r\n<li>5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel\u2120<\/li>\r\n<li>3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide<\/li>\r\n<li>3X points on eligible streaming services<\/li>\r\n<li>3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points on all other travel<\/li>\r\n<li>1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/11937075.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Citi Strata Premier\u00ae Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Citi Strata Premier<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Citi Strata Premier\u00ae Card' data-ccid=\"520083\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiPremierCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$95<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"520083\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4328&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com<\/li>\r\n<li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases<\/li>\r\n<li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants<\/li>\r\n<li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets<\/li>\r\n<li>3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations <\/li>\r\n<li>1X \u2013 Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-credit-card-for-dining\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Best Credit Cards for Dining & Restaurants<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Which_types_of_rewards_do_you_prioritize\">Which types of rewards do you prioritize?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It's not a secret that we like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">American Express Membership Rewards points<\/a>. You can transfer your Amex points to 20 partner loyalty programs and, on average, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/point-mile-values\/amex\" rel=\"noopener\">redeem points for 2\u00a2 apiece<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you're part of the Membership Rewards ecosystem (and find yourself priced out of the Amex Gold), there are other <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-rewards-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex cards that earn points<\/a> and have lower annual fees.<\/p>\n<p>Or, if you're not tied to a single rewards program, it's worth learning about competing programs and considering other <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-credit-card-offers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">top credit card offers<\/a>. As mentioned, several cards earn transferable points, have more digestible annual fees (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-no-annual-fee-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">or even $0 annual fees<\/a>), and may better align with your spending habits.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120107\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-120107 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andrea-Piacquadio-Pexels-credit-card-family-featured.png\" alt=\"a student looks at a computer to learn about credit cards with a grandfather\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andrea-Piacquadio-Pexels-credit-card-family-featured.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andrea-Piacquadio-Pexels-credit-card-family-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andrea-Piacquadio-Pexels-credit-card-family-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andrea-Piacquadio-Pexels-credit-card-family-featured-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Andrea Piacquadio\/Pexels<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Depending on who you are and what you spend money on, the <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/a> changes will either give you an added reason to keep renewing your card or make you decide it's time to move on.<\/p>\n<p>The value proposition of the card is similar today as it was before the changes, but not the same. You can still get more value from the card than the cost of the annual fee. But this requires more work. And that assumes you want to pay a $325 annual fee   (<a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>You should also note that these changes don't happen by accident. In essence, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/en-us\/newsroom\/articles\/products-and-services\/american-express--updates-u-s--consumer-gold-card-with-new-benef.html\" rel=\"noopener\">consumers asked for it<\/a>. Amex noticed &#8220;particularly strong restaurant spend with Millennial and Gen Z consumers&#8221; and responded by adjusting its offerings based on its &#8220;fastest growing customer segment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It's admirable that Amex is tailoring its cards to what Card Members are spending money on. Not every issuer does this. For some (like those who spend a lot on dining out), these changes will be well-received. But for those boxed out on the basis of hard-to-use credits and an annual fee that's now too much to bear, this overhaul will surely sting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The American Express\u00ae Gold Card just underwent an overhaul, and no, we&#8217;re not the least bit surprised. So, what&#8217;s new with the Amex Gold? And does it still warrant a spot in your wallet? Let&#8217;s take a look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":135125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12710,12520,12036],"coauthors":[36432],"class_list":["post-174242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-amex-membership-rewards","tag-card-benefits","tag-major-updates"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=174242"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":256462,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174242\/revisions\/256462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=174242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=174242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=174242"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=174242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}